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LUMBAR DISC PROBLEMS? YOU MAY HAVE THIS…

Nothing in the body happens in a vacuum. Every single systems interacts with every other system. People at increased risk for heart disease are at increased risk of colon cancer. Diabetes increases the risk for Alzheimers and Parkinsons. So what about disc degeneration / arthritis of the lumbar spine?

First of all, we need to understand what contributes to disc degeneration in the lumbar spine. Several factors have been identified. Genetics may play a role, but it’s likely to be the smaller role.

There are some strong associations between cardiovascular disease and disc degeneration. The inside 2/3 of the disc does not have its own blood supply, but rather gets its nutrients from small blood vessels in the bone of the vertebral body above and below. These small blood vessels may very likely be what links heart disease and disc degeneration.

Early atherosclerosis (plaquing of the arteries) due to cardiovascular disease, will reduce blood flow through these small blood vessels and thereby reduce nutrient delivery to the inside of the discs. In addition, the outer 1/3, which does have its own direct blood supply, will also be affected by this plaquing.

Less nutrients means less ability to heal which means a greater likelihood of breaking down faster. This leads to early onset disc degeneration. So what does this really mean?

It means that disc degeneration, because it is occuring throughout the body, is not going to be limited to only one area of the spine. Supporting this, this study finds links between lumbar disc degeneration and cervical disc degeneration. As a matter of fact, in those patients who had lumbar disc degeneration, almost every one (98%) had cervical disc degeneration.

However, in the control group who had neither low back or neck pain, 88.5% had disc degeneration in the cervical spine. Wow! That’s a really high number. Keep in mind these people were pain free, and yet the vast majority had “problems” found on MRI. Consider this next time your primary care doctor orders an MRI and refers you for a surgical consult…

For more than a decade, Dr. Bogash has stayed current with the medical literature as it relates to physiology, disease prevention and disease management. He uses his knowledge to educate patients, the community and cyberspace on the best way to avoid and / or manage chronic diseases using lifestyle and targeted supplementation.

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

What Others Are Saying

I had severe and limiting use of my right arm due to a fall while hiking, after a few sessions, I no longer have pain in my shoulder area and can raise my arm high in the air and rotate my shoulder for a full range of motion.

>> Brenda S.

When I came to Dr. Pangburn for Mesa Chiropractic treatment, I was walking like Quasimodo. I had had about every medical test available trying to determine why my hip was so painful. They all came back with the same results – no problem. Dr. Pangburn diagnosed the problem immediately, and within two months I was walking almost straight, with very little pain. I can only be thankful for Dr. Pangburns expertise.